FRANKFORT -- A judge upheld an arbitrator's ruling that Frankfort city officials must reinstate a former police officer whose career has been marked by complaints of overly aggressive tactics.
Benzie Circuit Judge James M. Batzer ruled Tuesday that Frankfort must reinstate Tim Cavric and pay him back wages since June 14, 2006, the date he filed a grievance with the police union.
Frankfort laid off Cavric in April 2003, and he filed the grievance days after the city hired a part-time officer without offering the open position to him.
An arbitrator eventually demanded Cavric's reinstatement, but the city filed a lawsuit seeking to have the ruling tossed out. Bazter believes the arbitrator ruled accurately.
"He exercised the authority granted him by the contract," Batzer wrote. "His decision takes its essence from the contract, and after careful review, this court cannot (contradict) the arbitrator's award."
Cavric, who served as a full-time officer, hired on with Frankfort in July 2000. Frankfort officials contend they let him go for financial reasons, but residents had long complained about his alleged strong-arm tactics.
Frankfort Mayor Norma Elias said the city council will meet soon to determine a next step. Cavric's rehiring could cause financial problems for the city, she said.
"I'm a little dismayed, but whatever the judge says I think we'll have to do it or appeal, (and) that's going to be up to the council as a whole," she said.
It's not clear how much the city will owe Cavric in back wages, councilman Fred Stransky said.
"It depends on how (the arbitration) is interpreted," he said.
Cavric, 36, said he hopes to get back to work in Frankfort, but he wouldn't be surprised if the city tries to appeal the ruling.
"I was confident with it to start with," he said. "I'm sure this isn't the end of it ... it would be nice if one could go back to work and just clean things up, but I guess we'll see."
Cavric worked in Big Rapids before coming to Frankfort, and hired on with Kalkaska about a year after the Frankfort layoff. He was fired from Big Rapids after a residency dispute and drew more criticism for aggressive tactics in Kalkaska.
Kalkaska eventually laid Cavric off in June 2007.
Cavric acknowledged he's drawn fire for aggressive behavior, and he contends he'll adjust his tactics if he returns to Frankfort.
"It's not that I believe the way I was working was wrong, but it just wasn't working," he said. "Obviously, I'll have to change my approach."
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